Weekend Forecast: The Hangover

Maybe yours is from alcohol, or from a splurge on sugar, or from a miscalculation of a situation, but in any case, this weekend we’re dealing with the aftereffects of aspects that feel as if they just won’t go away. That Grand Trine involving the South Node, Venus (should we throw in Ceres?–no, and in a minute you’ll see why), and the Uranus/ Juno conjunction is still in force, though the Moon has moved on to Aries, where it created a brief T-square with the Saturn-Pluto square–this likely offered us a glimpse at the emotional toll this square is taking, and perhaps offering a way to express, probably a little too forcefully (Moon in Aries). With the Grand Trine, the separation of the emotional impetus from the config is the likely source of our mass hangover–everyone is feeling what’s left when you drain away the emotional response and must deal with the results of a conundrum where the past, values and relationships (and perhaps finances), and the personal need for empowerment and/ or uniqueness and rebellion all seem to be in perfect, action-negating balance–we can let the situation sit, just as it is, though our desire is to act, based largely in an individual historical context (SN), and our feelings about things have left a residue that pushes us to resolve what, at present, is unresolvable, at least to our personal satisfaction (I say this as there are some for whom the writing is quite blatantly on the wall, and yet they refuse to read it, out of the personal pain and end of the fantasy recognizing it will cause-Neptune quincunx South Node, the never-ending conjunction of Neptune, Jupiter, and Chiron).

Why isn’t Scorpionic Ceres in the mix? She’s still kinda close to Venus, yes, but she’s relating to Jupiter, by square–so we’re looking at either an external conflict between two very strong, authoritative individuals who each want to run the show (and this conflict may actually be more about one who wants to do what he will, while the other may be attempting to adhere to a cycle or season), or we’re facing an internal upset between a desire to let fly and a consciousness that everything has its correct time–see how many times this stand-off comes up this weekend.

Also of note to start off the week’s wrap up, a Pallas/ Venus semi-sextile and Mercury trine Mars, still within orb. We’re prone to speak out rather aggressively, maybe without even realizing it, but if we use values as a guideline we can’t go wrong. By about midnight PST the Moon moves into a Grand Trine with Mercury and Mars, and this adds a fiery blast to communications–they’ll be packed with emotional dynamite, so transport them from your mouth to others’ ears very very carefully.

I would consider us pre-Void until the 8 PM hour Pacific time (that’s using the Moon’s quincunx to Venus as the final major aspect–some purists don’t use quincunx, so may call the Void as beginning earlier). This suggests we may feel like we know the score and then suddenly, nothing spools out quite the way we’d planned or anticipated. Likely a discomfiting Saturday night that presents everything we think we know just slightly askew.

By Sunday morning PST we have a new picture that presents a whole new set of problems (I’m going to start calling myself ‘The Good News Astrologer’–served up with a huge dollop of irony!) The 7 AM hour PST has the Taurus Moon filling in a Grand Trine with Pluto and Vesta–ah! some relief from that nasty Saturn-Pluto square, while we fixate instead on trying to clean up our emotions and their reflections in the environment (Earth element) according to our standards of what to honor, what is sacred. Unfortunately, our relief is something of a myth, as the Moon is also quincunx Saturn, offering us the possibility of adjusting our feelings to reality, but I can’t imagine this will be palatable for many (exception: all those Saturn lovers, like myself, who’d rather know and deal with the awful truth!) This is only reinforced by the Earth’s sesquiquadrate to the North Node, which requires we adapt the material world to fit our life direction, while making it uncomfortable to do so.

Ceres opposed Sedna perfects–uh-oh, this is like that ‘blind justice’ statue, without the justice. Authority doesn’t know its limits or rights from a hole in the ground, and everyone suffers. Don’t think this is everybody else’s problem, though–we’ll all personally suffer from an inability to know our appropriate level of power and authority over others, as well. And speaking of Sedna, Mercury is quincunx her, square Uranus, and sextile Jupiter/ Chiron. At this point we may be raising our arms heavenward, dramatically asking ‘Why?’ We’ll have the feeling, though, that God does not want to talk about ‘it,’ and the whole complex may smack of a bit of punishment for doing something wrong, what with our sudden inability to communicate effectively, our insistence on rebellion from the norm, and our built-in exaggeration of how much this hurts us–gosh, now that I describe it, if I were the big ‘G’ I wouldn’t want to talk about it, either! It’s not all bad, though, as with Venus as current planet of latest degree we find that what we care about stays at the forefront–and as long as we’re ‘right’ with our relationships, finances, and in maintaining our values, we’ll end up feeling pretty darn good.

And have a great weekend, no matter what I say!

 

Happy Turkey Day!

Thought I should have something for my friends who come by here on our day of celebration–since I can’t offer you a slice of pie, I’ll give you a wee glimpse of what we must be on the lookout for as we gather with those near and dear here in the US. Jupiter is square Sedna, and Venus is square Neptune, and both spell difficulty knowing just where and how our abundance is coming to us–making it hard to give thanks to the real source of our love, luck, and survival this holiday season. It’s enough to consider that there may be fortuitous forces at work, and to be thankful that the Universe works (brilliantly) the way it does. A Grand Trine among Venus,Uranus-the Moon- Juno conjunction, and the South Node suggests an excellent time to reminsce and gather with important people from our past. The Moon conjuncts Juno, and Venus is trine Juno and Uranus, generally saying that emotions are empowering and in tune with truly loving relationships, and that we just might be surprised, likely by something very good, unless it’s this: but, and this is a big ol’ but, Mercury is trine Mars, making a sharp, aggressive tongue far too easy to employ. So, watch your words, go light on the sweets and alcohol (Venus-Neptune), and enjoy your time with family and friends.

If I Can’t See It, Why Does It Hurt?

The obvious answer to that is, Why must you see something in order for it to have an effect? That’s the situation we’re facing right now: we can feel it, but getting a handle on just where the energies are being generated is nearly impossible. The biggest problems, though, are twofold: we may attribute effects to the wrong sources, and we may insist on things that aren’t necessarily so (the most pronounced of which might be the mantra, ‘Venus square Jupiter means everything is great, dammit!’)

The dynamic in play is a Venus/ Ceres conjunction (strong women, or strong animas, or two values sets, with very different agendas, but both focused on having a power-effect on the situation–look to your values, finances, or relationships for the arena where this appears personally, or in the matters of the natal House where this conjunction is happening for you) opposed Sedna (the ‘blind spot’) all in a T-square with Jupiter/ Chiron (exaggerated hurt or PR, hurt from the social sphere, skills tested under duress–the square–in the social sphere, learning what wounds, or those wounds inflicted by religious, educational, or cultural differences).

This can have about a million different forms, but the essence of it is this: we’re bound to identify hurt coming from somewhere, and get both the nature of the upset and the origins wrong. Sedna makes us unable to see–it’s not a matter of being willing to see, or of making a special effort; the energy of this body removes our ability to accurately pinpoint the conflict (though some number of us will guess correctly in spite of ourselves! It’s just the odds). What, then, can we do about this? How to cope?

Even our coping mechanism comes with a caveat, as Neptune, the Great Obscurer, is involved. We can look to innate wisdom and common sense for guidance (Pallas), as this energy is accessible through feedback from the social realm and from our own attempts to reach out or expand (Jupiter), and through application of the unique Chirotic skills, and our ideals, creativity, and imagination (Neptune). The trine between Pallas and Jupiter/ Chiron/ Neptune allows a funneling of our ’smarts’ and our most competent attributes so that, by observing the products of actions and thoughts based on our ideal and imaginings, and on the feedback we get from the social sphere, we can determine in what way our perceptual equation is imbalanced. We can pinpoint the relevant power, authority, values, relationship, and financial issues that are really in play at present, and discern whether they truly are injurious, as well as in what way they may serve to help us expand and ‘get the word out.’

Wish I didn’t have to be so vague, but with the involvement of both Sedna and Neptune, nebulousness is almost required! And a word about the Venus/ Jupiter square: don’t forget that a square is a conflict aspect, at least initially–there will be discord within attempts to expand in Venusian areas. If we accept this, we’ll be much more likely to stop insisting that this is a great influence, and start working with it, so that we can resolve the tension and actually make it work for us, likely with great success.

Weekend Forecast: The ‘I’ in Focus

Okay, that’s a bad pun, but it captures the essence of this weekend’s energies: the focus for each of us will be on ourselves, and rightly so–we will be called upon to process and accept unasked for change, to adjust to energies and avoid conflict–and knowing that it’s appropriate to focus on the Self may help us handle what comes forward.

ow-quit it

Friday Venus and Mars still chafe in square; it’s egos v. partnership obligations and secrets. You’ll likely find yourself on one side of this or the other, with where you fall determined more by natal orientation than anything else. Are you a ‘me first’ kind of person, getting your own house in order before interacting (we can label this ‘responsible’) or are you someone who puts the health of the alliance first, looking to your own needs once the greater welfare is met (we can label this ‘altruistic’)? Your response to this lets you know what your viewpoint may be. You’ll handle this best by keeping in mind that both parts must be served–that turns conflict into a co-operative effort of contrasting urges.

Venus is within conjunction orb of Ceres in Scorpio. This puts our relationship focus on maternal/ mothering issues and relationships, as well as on who has authority in any interaction. Scorpio says we’ll go about it one of two ways: sneakily, playing our cards close to the vest (perhaps in an attempt to keep as much power and authority for ourselves as possible–understandably so, in some instances), or we’ll delve straight to what we see as the heart of the matter, laying our cards on the table, and expecting others to do the same (and perhaps being rather unforgiving of their reluctance, if they don’t!) With Mercury, planet of communication, all by its lonesome in Sagittarius right now, and not making significant aspect to anything, we may feel we can just ‘go for it’–but discretion might be a relationship-saver, at this point in time. I find that when Merc is being ignored by the other energies, it tends to make us go, like the infamous Sarah Palin, “off script,” with disastrous (or at least troubling, with a need to do clean-up afterward) results.

Vesta has entered Virgo and trines Pluto; expect involuntary changes to the home front, those subjects we consider sacred (with this we may be forced to change our opinion, or to elevate the status of something heretofore considered to be not-so-sacrosanct), or we may have to accept changes to the sex life. This may be the most traumatic thing we deal with this weekend; don’t immediately rebel, let it sink in, consider that things may be better this way (and that the change may serve a purpose in days to come).

Juno and Uranus are conjunct exact to the minute, at 22 Pisces 45. Individuality experiences its peak of empowerment. Notice where you are, figuratively, and perhaps literally, and how you feel–this is what personal success may truly be for you. Pallas is quincunx this, suggesting that we’ll know exactly what must be modified to achieve precisely what we want; but, when we consider Sedna is sesquiquadrate Pallas (and sextile Juno/Uranus), we realize that we are in danger of not perceiving the true state of things at all. With Sun as current energy of latest degree, we must look to ourselves, our Sun essence, in order to make our reality check.

Saturday early PST we see the Moon conjunct the North Node; this points up Neptune’s quincunx to the South Node, and asks us to use our emotions as a barometer for life choices, just for a while. If we ignore feeling and go too much with past experience right now we run the risk of accepting an illusion, delusion, or fantasy as reality.

The Sun will be at the stress point of 29 degrees, ready to venture into Sagittarius. This places a sense of pressure on us all. We’ll be a lot better off if we can realize that this is just ‘in the air,’ and can avoid responding to it too much. Pallas is also trine Chiron, suggesting that our most unique and developed skills can easily be brought forward; at the same time, we must beware of using our own intelligence to justify what we know to be wounding.

Sunday the Sun, new in Sagittarius, and Earth in Gemini squares with Vesta in Virgo. Duties and that which we honor may interfere with the new direction we want to take, as well as the measures we want to take to get there; we may be overly critical–it’ll be just too easy. Be kind with yourself; we’re all doing some rearranging of priorities and even vetting some core beliefs this weekend, and what must be done must be done–just insure that what is changed doesn’t violate your actual, personal code of conduct, rather than violating an image of yourself that’s better dismissed.

Venus square Jupiter will probably hog the day’s energy, bringing a sense of exuberance that carries within it a feeling of discord. Don’t expect everything to look rosy or to be especially peaceful today, and take all these leaps forward in stride–we all should take some time to get our bearings. With Juno trine the North Node, it’s still all about the ‘I’–using our feeling of genuine empowerment as a compass is about the best we can do for now.

See my books here http://dogandsunflower.wordpress.com and see my latest for ‘Been There, Done That’ http://askjulie.wordpress.com  Illustration is by Innes Fripp from ‘Human Anatomy for Art Students,’ 1911, courtesy of www.karenswhimsy.com

PostScript: Wow! I’ve been dealing with more of those pesky time travel issues–I initially posted this with Capricorn in place of Sag for the Sun’s new home, but a deja-vu-y feeling made me think hard about the fact that it’s really the end of November–I could’ve sworn it was late December, even with the charts staring me in the face! All I can say about my trip to the future is that the weather here in Seattle will be cold and rainy–what a surprise! So I looked ahead, to December 19th–and found a stew of tension and temper. Juno trine Ceres both at 29 degrees in Water=emotional crisis! over empowerment and authority; Sun conj. Pluto=the depths illuminated, the stark underbelly of reality made obvious, a possibly dark or transforming day, again, power the central theme; Jupiter exact conjunct Neptune=a peak for exaggeration, delusion, or hopes and idealism; Mars square Sedna and quincunx Mercury=a (perhaps literal) inability to recognize the possible consequences of our actions, words, and thoughts, and an almost compulsive urge to do it and say it! Mark this day, if only to avoid the pitfalls of walking into a quagmire. That’ll teach me not to chrono-adventure!

A new set of eclipses is coming New Year’s Eve and January 2010–be prepared with an eclipse report! See ‘WANT MORE’ for details.

Destined Directions and the New Moon

New Moon arrives the 16th of November at 11:13 AM PST at 24 Scorpio 34; there’s a trine of Earth to the North Node and the Sun/ Moon combination trines the South Node (using a two degree max orb) and we also have the Sun/ Moon trine the exact Uranus/ Juno conjunction in Pisces (creating a Grand Trine with the South Node) and square Neptune in Aquarius. There is always a birth of the new in the House of the natal chart where the Sun/ Moon conjunction falls, and this time it will bring easy expression of the uniqueness and empowerment circumstances of the Self, which in itself will be a precise test of how well we’ve learned the lessons of the past. The Grand Trine formation in Water suggests that the greatest revelation and payoff will be emotional; the trine made by Earth to the North Node says that whatever progress there is to our destined development will have a marked effect on the material circumstances of our lives.

We are given a clue as to the nature of this birth of the new (or perhaps in this case a re-birth or resurrection, considering the sign is Scorpio) by the Sabian degree symbol, ‘An X-Ray Photograph.’ Putting all our clues together, this says that the renaissance involves a depth of perception, especially emotionally (the Water Grand Trine) in some matter related to the House where this occurs for us in the natal chart. Expect to see something, in fact, to see through something, so that the bare bones of the matter are exposed–nothing is hidden, in the particular area affected. However, to take the symbol a little farther, an x-ray doesn’t show us the nature of the surface of the object or individual–and that suggests that though we may have very sharp and detailed insight into the matter, we may not see the thing, person, or situation as it’s actually presented, a ‘miss the forest for the trees’ kind of focus. We will express our individuality, uniqueness, and empowerment and, depending on the thoroughness of our ability to process what we’ve learned from the past, we can literally see the very structure of things, and yet there may be a problem as we dehumanize what’s before us–and we’re reminded of this by the Earth trine to the North Node in the Earth element, which asks us to see how the material surroundings, the way things look, the tangible, those surfaces and externals mentioned earlier, are giving information about the direction we’re headed, about our future.

Under oddities and influences we have Vesta at 29 degrees and the Part of Fortune for the moment of the New Moon exact quincunx Mars and sextile the asteroid Zeus (about which I’m preparing an article right now, which is why I noticed! The article will be included in an electronic quarterly in Pdf form that will be available for purchase soon–I’ll also include–and pay–other contributing astrologers for future issues, and hope you’ll give this pub a try!) This combination suggests that we are in some way stressed about those subjects we find sacred, circumstances in the home, or with the sex life, perhaps feeling a contradiction between the actions we would take (Mars), that energy most characteristic of ‘luck’ or a sort of adept touch (Part of Fortune), and the Zeusian attitude of do what we want when we want. This may form a surface current that crosses and mingles with the New Moon energies, distracting and confusing us. The way to keep them separate is to recognize that what creates an emotional impact (and/ or empowerment or sharp perceptions) will relate to the New Moon, while what creates stress will relate to the Mars complex–this requires us mostly to recognize boundaries and what actions typically benefit us, and stick with these, rather than following those impulses to ‘go rogue.’

Haven’t had a lot of chance to look around, but you shouldn’t miss Jude Cowell’s take on the New Moon http://www.starsoverwashington.com/2009/11/scorpio-new-moon-nov-16-2009-secret.html and Dipali Desai’s thoughts here http://celestialspace.wordpress.com/2009/11/14/new-moon-in-scorpio-on-november-16th-2009/ and Verena Donath’s here http://verenadonath.wordpress.com/2009/11/16/november-16-2009-scorpio-new-moon-2009/

And don’t forget the Leonids, visible the next few nights http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33891078/ns/technology_and_science-space/?GT1=43001

See my latest post here http://askjulie.wordpress.com/2009/11/17/being-in-love-ladies-are-you-an-annie-oakley-or-a-calamity-jane/

Both images courtesy of NASA

The Saturn-Pluto Square

A conflict aspect between two serious heavyweights such as these, not surprisingly, has stirred a great deal of concern, but really shouldn’t. It’s a clash of the titans, a rough meeting of forces with ancient origins–and as such, it will affect most of us as significant background, rather than up front pressure or confrontation. It brings to bear on the life general energies that require discipline and effort (and if we don’t discipline ourselves, circumstances come along and do it for us! Such is the influence of Saturn) and that will require the utmost seriousness and honesty–as Pluto will rile the depths until truth be told.

No wonder many people are worried about this! But, not to fear–it’s an excellent long-term opportunity to make significant, down-to-the-roots changes that can immensely better your world. Will it take work? Yes, Saturn’s involved; Will it be dramatic and messy? Yup, Pluto can bring forward the secrets and question the theatrics that have been protecting them like no other. Is this bad? Only if you don’t want to do the hard work–but this doesn’t have to be especially hard, with the difference between difficult and relatively smooth being one’s willingness to address what comes forward. It’s that simple.

Parsing out the effects of this square over time is best done in two ways: an inspection of the ways it contacts the natal chart, naturally, and in watching what through transit touches the square. This latter will give a tenor to the square, giving the energy clash a certain flavor–and right now, that happens to be provided by a sesquiquadrate formed by Jupiter in Aquarius. This stimulates a strong desire to understand the square intellectually (but the majority of its energies are more primal than that–sensing them works better), and it makes us prone to project the effects outward, into our social sphere or society at large. Tensions generated by needed change will find expression in one’s role or interaction in the group arena–which could be unsettling, as everyone changes partners and shifts position, drawing lines in the sand, demanding the bare-knuckles truth, and overall looking to reflect inner changes in significant change to the surroundings.

See my latest post here http://askjulie.wordpress.com/2009/11/17/being-in-love-ladies-are-you-an-annie-oakley-or-a-calamity-jane/

The Slingshot Full Moon

The Full Moon today at 11:14 AM PST acts like a cosmic slingshot, loading two tense configurations that we’ll be hard pressed to escape: a T-square with the Sun (10 Scorpio 30) conjunct Ceres and Mercury at one end, the Earth/ Moon conjunction (10 Taurus 30) at the other, with an arm formed by Mars in Leo; and a Fist of God with the same Sun/ Mars square, both sides sesquiquadrate the Juno/ Uranus conjunction.

Perhaps the most effective way to look at this is by defining each energy cluster; when we do this, and examine the Sabians related to the Full Moon degree, we find something unusual: that these tense aspects will bring a sense of relief and productive serenity. What a surprise! The Sun/ Ceres/ Mercury group in Scorpio brings a blending of the identity with a sense of authority and a natural ease of communication; in Scorpio this promises depth and intensity, the possible involvement of secrets, the desire to clear the air (and we’ve been seeing this for some time; we can assume this is, logically, the culmination, at least of this phase of development). The Sabian for this degree (courtesy of cafe astrology http://www.cafeastrology.com/sabiansymbols_degreemeanings.html) is, ‘A drowning man is being rescued.’ This promises the process has already begun; the conjunction of energies adds that our own capacity to embrace who we are, to believe in ourselves, and to communicate this is instrumental to the realization of the ‘rescue.’ This presents a challenge of its own: if we don’t, in some fundamental way, know ourselves and our identity, we will be at a disadvantage; the rescue may not be a success, our message may be garbled, our identity unclear.

The Moon/ Earth conjunction is at 10 Taurus 30, the Sabian for which is, ‘A woman watering flowers in her garden.’ This image is in radical juxtaposition to the one for the Sun, and suggests the serenity found both in the process of drowning (at a crucial stage the mind takes one elsewhere, to the memory of something calming and earth-bound) and evokes the flashes coming to the rescued: I will stay home in the garden from now on! It represents the natural reaching toward the polar opposite (water to land) that is the logical result of a land creature (humans) overwhelmed by an element where he or she is only temporarily comfortable (water)—and that brings us to the idea that what we may be rescued from by our sure knowledge of ourselves is the emotional, intuitive, and subconscious influences that have seemed to be overcoming us of late (Moon, manifested–Earth).

The Leonine Mars arm of the T-square suggests that the tension inherent in exercising the ego’s prerogatives (and these are keyed to the Soul’s needs, Leo) will bring about the rescue and resolution, which puts us in a position to tend and enjoy our metaphorical garden, the results of all we’ve been nurturing–in other words, we’ll get what we deserve by our actions that resolve this tension-need.

The other configuration, the Fist, takes the Sun-Mars square, bringing forward the productive tension of the ego/ identity energy mix, and puts both parts into a situation calling for adjustment to empowerment needs and the need to express the uniqueness (or, for some, the need to show themselves within a group). Though tense, this too allows us to resolve a pressing need, and to access some of our most vital Self-expression energies; these are certainly, as well, some of our most original.

Creative types should benefit enormously from this Moon, as will anyone dealing with boundary and empowerment issues, and so will those who have been stuck, in some sense, within the process of creating the life–they will be rescued by the coalescence of their own most typical energies and impulses, and placed in the ‘garden’ of their own creation.

Look to the House of the natal chart where the Sun influence is present (Leo cusp, natal Sun placement, transiting Sun) for ideas as to what areas might offer you the reflection your identity needs to recognize itself, and to the Full Moon House for the life area where the need to resolve the tension has been manifest (and accept that this is where the relevant tension shows–this elaborates on what we’re being rescued from). The dynamic across the House axis where the Full Moon falls is one of material renewal and spiritual resurrection. Where Mars in Leo falls in the natal chart is where the ego can act to end the crisis–but don’t expect this to go forward without some upset and conflict, particularly internally–that’s just the nature of all those squares and sesqui-s!

The Juno/ Uranus conjunction draws on the entire cosmos (Pisces) for empowerment and creative ideas–so even the sky isn’t the limit, in terms of what you can access! The slingshot quality of all these components is that tension, movement, and release will propel us toward the goal–just aim as carefully as you can!

Fun Fact: have any of your heard of this before? The built-in dictionary that comes with Works says:

na·tal [náyt'l]
adj
 of buttocks: relating to the buttocks 
[Late 19th century. < Latin natis "buttock"]
Encarta ® World English Dictionary © & (P) 1998-2005 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

What??

Greetings from the Future!

Friday's fashions are nothing like today's

For the past two days I’ve been feeling like we’re two days farther into the week than we are; yesterday I thought it was Thursday, and today feels like Friday–so I’m just going to give up and go with the (time) flow, and tell you a little something about what it’s like here and today, Friday, October 30th, 2009. I hope you weren’t expecting anything flashy; it’s really pretty much like it was Wednesday, with gray skies and cool, late Fall weather where I am. The world is still spinning (or at least, that’s what the media tells me) and life is still a piquant mix of tragedy and sorrow and joy and hilarity and nonsense. So, why did I bother to write to you, you ask? Because of this Fist of God, formed by a Sun/ Ceres conjunction, square Mars, all these sesquiquadrate the Juno/ Uranus conjunction. We really should be ready for it; it may come out swinging, not in a bad way, but in a challenging one, and if we’re on top of the energy, we can use it.

First, though, if any of the elements of the Fist touch anything in your natal chart, pay special, close attention, for God may be thinking of reaching out and poking you, just you, with this fist–or at least, that’s what it may feel like, like you were singled out for a special drubbing by the capricious powers-that-be. Sun/ Ceres at 7 Scorpio, Mars at 6 Leo, and Juno/ Uranus at 21 and 23 Pisces, respectively, are the points to watch, and if your contact is with Juno/ Uranus, be especially alert, as you will be at the apex point of the energy–and so receiving the brunt of the Sun/ Ceres -/Mars square. For myself, I have my natal Moon sitting smack-dab between Juno and Uranus, making my emotional state, my intuition, and my subconscious wide open to receive the energy of the square (in empowerment of the individual form, I hope!) You have to wait two whole days to experience the effects for yourself; I only have to wait until later this afternoon

Overall, the picture is one of possible individual empowerment (or group empowerment) via the conflicts between powerful authorities (Sun/ Ceres) and pure action (Mars). This suggests that the energy generated will arise out of authorities’ choices in the face of actions observed–and it may lead to opportunity for the individual, the rebel, the intellectually engaged, the innovator, the avant garde Artist, the modern, the revolutionary, the reformed. The Uranian energy is, somewhat strangely, keyed to both hope and cynicism–if we can maintain a balance between the two, while remaining poised to strike while the figurative iron of opportunity, choice, and chance is hot, we can make outstanding use of the energy offered by this Fist of God.

No worries; I’ll wait here (Friday, that is) ’till you catch up!

See the latest ‘What You’re Asking’ featuring Eros on the MC, stalker synastry, and what to do about emotional isolation in relationship, here http://askjulie.wordpress.com/2009/10/27/what-youre-asking-eros-in-public-an-emo-ghost-and-stalker-synastry/ and see and purchase my books here http://dogandsunflower.wordpress.com Thanks!

Picture is from http://davidszondy.com/future/fashion/future_fashion.htm a site that has everything you’d want to know about fashion in the ‘future’!

See the Pretty Fishies

Must pop in and recommend you download the latest X-Ray Mag (a diving magazine–download is free) to see the undersea portfolio of prima astrologer Jude Cowell  http://www.x-ray-mag.com/  Stunning pictures with lush color, expert rendering, crisp detail–a must see! And don’t neglect to check out Jude’s work here http://shop.cafepress.com/jude-cowell The holidays are coming!

Fly Girls: Earhart, Coleman, and Co.

Swank as Earhart

In honor of the new Hilary Swank biopic on Amelia Earhart (and the controversy surrounding its star, who has recently been criticized for sleeping nude and allowing her boyfriend’s young son to see her this way), let’s look at the chart of the pioneering aviatrix and of her rival, another female pilot who could’ve easily outshone Amelia, if not for the efforts of Earhart’s husband–more on that later; first, we’ll peek at Swank’s chart, and see if there’s anything in the natal chart that might indicate the chance of winning two Oscars before age 29, as well as the affinity for sleeping naked. We have no time of birth, but we do have a date and place for Swank (30 July 1974  No Time Known  Lincoln NE USA). Without angles we’re frustrated in connecting energies to the public image, but we are able to see the Leo Sun trine Sag Neptune, a creative and extremely outgoing Soul urge; add the Moon and Pallas each at 29 degrees (Sag and Cap, respectively) and we have the emotional necessity to express the skills–this really is the signature of someone who in just being alive will be compelled to express express express the creative and imaginative nature–and it’s the kind of energy that draws the attention (and admiration, via the skills) of others–and their projections, as well, through the strong Neptune/ Sun contact–really perfect for a performer. No angles takes away a main timing element, but we do notice that the natal Saturn, Mercury, Venus conjunction did, by Solar Arc, contact the Sun at the ages of 18 (Mercury), 25 (Saturn–the year of her win for ‘Boys Don’t Cry’–see? Saturn brings good things to those who work hard!) and 26 (Venus–the point when the paycheck likely soared), so it’s not hard to image major accolades coming in early adulthood to this Leo lady. As to the stir over sleeping habits, Hilary’s Vesta/ Uranus conjunction says that the individuality and uniqueness (as well as the urge to be different) of the Self is sacred to her, and the exact Chiron/ Uranus opposition suggests that the expression of one’s freedom could be a way of refusing to succumb to wounds to the Self-esteem or fears (and that there’s not an ounce of lasciviousness in her penchant for nudity). Not at all a surprise, then, that this Leo should be chosen to portray another Leo, aviatrix Amelia Earhart (24 July 1897  11:30 PM  Atchison KS USA) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amelia_earhart. Rather than concentrate on what every schoolchild already knows about ‘Lady Lindy,’ as she was called (after Charles Lindburgh, another ambitious pilot), I’d like to point out two lesser known facets of her life, the first being her involvement with nursing and social work.

Amelia trained as a nurse in response to the flu pandemic of 1918, and at her Saturn Return, after she’d already earned her pilot’s license and garnered a reputation as an aviator, she began work with Dennison House, a resource for disadvantaged families. We see this in the natal Saturn/ Uranus conjunction in the 7th (the need to do something concrete, progressive, socially relevant, for others); possibly, too, in the Moon/ Pluto conjunction in the 2nd, suggesting deep empathy out of personal experience, and the Grand Square of Sun/ Earth axis and Pallas/ Chiron opposition (this latter across the 12th/7th axis), showing a serious need both to show the skills for personal fullfillment and glory, and to heal wounds, both personal and of the Collective (in this instance, Chiron taking on transpersonal expression, attempting to alleviate some of the darker suffering of others–Scorpionic Chiron in the 7th).

Amelia on the wing, George on the ground

The other thing about Amelia we might not be aware of is that she wasn’t the only famous aviatrix of the time (notably Beryl Markham–read about her interesting life http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beryl_Markham and Bessie Coleman, about whom we’ll talk in a moment), but it may have seemed that way to many in the US, as Amelia’s marriage to George Putnam of Putnam publishing fame in 1931 put her firmly in the limelight–not because her exploits were more impressive than anyone else’s, but because Putnam not only published and promoted her book, ‘The Fun of It’ very successfully, he knew how to work that era’s publicity machine as few others did. The reality was that though others were known for feats just as exciting as Amelia’s at the time, we chiefly have her disappearance, while trying to complete an around the world flight with co-pilot Fred Noonan, as well as her husband’s tireless pre- and post-disappearance promotion, to thank for her status as legend.

The last radio contact with Earhart and Noonan occurred at 8:55 AM local time near Nukumanu Island on the way to Howland Island in the Central Pacific Ocean. If we look at the chart for the time of last contact as it relates to the natal chart, we don’t see a lot of bang-up contact, and to me this suggests that Earhart likely landed her plane on an atoll, rather than plummeting to her death in the ocean (and this is supported by the spotting of old wreckage by satellite in 2001). What we do see hints at some possibilities: the 29 degree Ascendant suggests that at this point, her fate was sealed–whatever was wrong had already cascaded into a determined course; natal chart ruler Venus in transit shows a semi-sextile to the natal Part of Fortune (dubbed the Part of Misfortune by Richard Houck, who found it involved often at points of fate determining events), square to Juno, and opposition to Saturn and Uranus, signalling a moment when the individual is challenged in many significant ways; T Neptune square N Ceres (with T Ceres and Juno at 00 degrees, calling for adaptablility to the ‘new’ vibe), suggesting perhaps that Earhart’s natural sense of earth and sky, so vital to a flyer, may have been confused, or that she may not have recognized a ‘natural’ problem of some kind; and the transiting Moon sextiled natal Pluto–an emotionally charged glimpse into the abyss, certainly echoing the natal situation (of the loaded 2nd House, containing Moon, Pluto, Ceres, Neptune, Venus, Part of Fortune).  Another note on the natal chart: the Mars/ Jupiter conjunction in the 5th, endowing the individual with the romantic view of exploration and pioneering efforts, and connecting the ego and animus to these, with Jupiter ruling the 8th and 9th, bringing in the need to garner others’ support and to explore what’s ‘foreign’–certainly a signature for Earhart’s efforts as a flyer.

Bessie and her plane

Another female flyer, Bessie Coleman, gave Amelia a run for her money–if Amelia hadn’t been married to Putnam, it might have been Bessie who would be the stronger presence in the national consciousness–especially considering that Coleman was the first licensed Black pilot, male or female, in the world. ‘Queen Bess’ (26 January 1892  no time known  Atlanta TX USA) was inspired by returning WWI pilots to take to the air–and when she couldn’t get anyone to teach her how to fly in the US, she went to Europe, where she studied with some of the best flyers in the world. Coleman performed around the country as a barnstormer, a flyer who astounds crowds with daring feats and acrobatics; she became a celebrity, known for her ability and willingness to perform the most difficult stunts. Unfortunately, Bessie didn’t live long enough to fulfill her dream, which was to establish a school for young people of color who wished to fly. It was in 1926, while up with her mechanic and publicity manager at the stick, that Bessie was thrown, unsecured, from the open cockpit to her death. A (literal) wrench in the gears caused the controls to jam and the plane to plow into the ground–and in many ways this rings true to the chart, where great talent and drive is shown as being challenged at every turn (the many squares).

We see Bessie’s spirit loud and clear in the natal chart. A Sag Moon shows the need to reach out, explore, and the willingness to go far to fulfill the emotional needs; Uranus forms a T-square with the Sun/ Earth axis, suggesting that dynamism of the individuality acted to energize (and also present challenges to) the Soul expression and identity and material situations; Vesta is quincunx Saturn–this struck me as an expression of the need, or even insistence, of ‘getting off the ground’–quite literally, in this case! The Nodes create a T-square with Pallas apex, implying that intelligence ran the destiny–but also presented plenty of challenges to moving forward successfully (such as through the desire to do something she at first was unable to find co-operation or support for); Sedna quincunx Uranus, epitomizing perhaps the form many problems took, but also an ‘engine’ that helped drive accomplishment, in that she may not have seen how her own rebelliousness to the system, individuality, innovative spirit, and intelligence served to both hinder and propel her accomplishments; Venus trine Uranus=treasuring the uniqueness of Self, something any groundbreaker needs; and I see bravery in the ‘chain reaction’ conjunction of Venus (at 7 Pisces), then successively Ceres, Jupiter, and finally Juno (at 22 Pisces)–this combo epitomizes a very strong, capable, and confident individual with both the ability to empower herself and an ultimate faith in the Universe (Pisces) that supports her independent path. Read about ‘Queen Bess’ here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bessie_Coleman and here www.bessiecoleman

Here’s an excellent update on Amelia’s status http://ameliaearhart.com/news/2009/10/earharts-final-resting-place-believed-found/, with thanks to Jude Cowell’s http://www.starsoverwashington.com/ for pointing the way